Why Meghan Markle Has Become the Royal Family Scapegoat - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

More than a handful of pearls have been clutched at the mere
mention of Meghan
Markle’s name. When the engagement between her and Prince Harry was
announced in 2017, people cheered over the fact that Princess Diana’s youngest son
finally fell and love and wanted to settle down, and the then-actress had both admirers
and detractors.



After a lavish fairytale wedding and the birth
of their first child, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to
endure scrutiny, insults, and sprinkled in there somewhere, support. But Meghan
Markle has received the brunt of public scorn when it comes to the royal
family, and instead of fading, it’s only increasing—to daily attacks. For a monarchy
that’s seen its share of scandals, criticism, and marital strife, how did Markle
become public enemy/scapegoat number one?



Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Dan Istitene – Pool/Getty ImagesShe’s been blamed for a feud between Prince William and Prince Harry



In addition to being marked as the reason for an alleged
feud with Kate Middleton, British tabloids have also made her Markle out to be an
enemy of her husband’s relationship with his brother, Prince William. The two
have always been close, especially having to deal with the trauma of losing
their mother so young, and they’ve found ways to work together in their royal
duties and for the community.



When Markle came on the scene, she was inducted into the fold
and the couples were charmingly nicknamed “The Fab Four.” But then reports and
rumors began circulating that Prince William did not approve of his brother’s fiancée
and that led to a split in living quarters and office arrangements.



These rumors have been ongoing for months, but a recent
report shared by Fox
News claims that Prince William believes Meghan’s influence on the prince
and the couple’s behavior has been “detrimental” to the monarchy.



Markle’s been tagged as the reason for royal overspending



If you took a poll of the British public, many are not fans
of the monarchy at all, let alone individual members of the royal family. With
that said, the royals have been subject to criticism about their spending and
finances for decades. Prince Charles and Camilla have come under fire
for their travel expenses, and, according to an old ABC
News story, the Royal Parliament did not mince words with the Queen’s
treasurer about pulling back on the use of public purse funds.



Markle, a former actress, came into her union with Prince
Harry with a degree from Northwestern University and a few million in the bank from
her career. Each of the dukes were left inheritances from their late mother,
and Prince Charles helps to fund some of their events, needs, and trips.



Complaints about Markle hinge on her being an American
actress and the perception that she desires to live extravagantly and “climb a
social ladder.” Her baby shower (paid for by friends), her Vogue spot, her
wardrobe, and vacations she’s taken with her husband have all been condemned.



Markle is still the focus in spite of other royal family headlines



Fans and supporters of Markle and Prince Harry have been
quick to point out that other royal family members don’t catch as much flack as
these two. Somehow, Prince
Andrew has managed to escape the level of public judgement that the duke
and duchess have faced for his association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey
Epstein, in spite of evidence showing that he knew more and did more than he’s
possibly letting on.



Additionally, when news of Prince William’s alleged affair with
Rose Hanbury hit the news, the media did not take their sights off of Meghan
Markle—even feeding into her estranged sister’s drama. What happened to that Hanbury
story anyway?



Friends of Prince Harry and Markle have spoken out in their defense



Prince Harry has been forced to make statements defending
his wife, citing that many of the attacks are racially based, and that people are
showing their biases based on the negative coverage and commentary on Markle. Buckingham
Palace has also come to Markle’s defense (and Prince Harry’s) to dispel rumors
of family turmoil and to refute claims of diva behavior with neighbors.



But the duke and duchess’s personal friends have had enough
too. When people went haywire over the couple’s trip to Nice, France, Elton
John revealed that he financed the affair and allowed them (and baby Archie) to
stay in his private, secluded home.



Recently, one of Markle’s best friends, Jessica Mulroney,
called out people for their attacks.





InStyle also noted that Jameela Jamil tweeted a message about the British press’s unforgiving stories about the duchess and that one tabloid called her DNA “exotic.” While some of Markle’s haters view her as a self-centered Hollywood prima donna, those who are close to her call such descriptions of her lies.



Markle is unlike others who have married into the British royal family, which has its advantages and disadvantages. Being different has no doubt made her an easy target for royal scapegoating.



It remains to be seen if the attacks on Markle will ever let
up, or if Prince Harry will come out and remind the public of how the media’s
treatment of his mother led to her death.



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